- Joined
- Nov 22, 2021
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I'm planning on going on a weekend canoe trip in early May.
I've decided that my Esquif Echo is the best tool for the job.
Last fall, I loaned it to a fellow club member who took it on two pretty major trips. First, about seven days on the Upper Missouri and then ten days going through Labyrinth and Stillwater Canyons.
Afterwards, it went straight from the top of her car to my garage and has been there ever since.
This morning, I spent some time getting it ready for my trip.
After adjusting the foot braces to my long legs and sitting in it, I decided the gunnels needed some padding where my knees hit. Luckily, I had some adhesive backed closed cell foam that seemed to work just fine.
Then I turned the canoe over and did something that is probably controversial. The big dents aren't what slows a boat down, it's all the little scratches, so I go over the hull with steel wool and smooth out all the sharp edges. Then I give it a coating of wax.
I turned the boat back over again and went over all the woodwork with steel wool and then gave it another coat of Watco.
I found a rivet that needs replacing, but I saved that for another day.
I've decided that my Esquif Echo is the best tool for the job.
Last fall, I loaned it to a fellow club member who took it on two pretty major trips. First, about seven days on the Upper Missouri and then ten days going through Labyrinth and Stillwater Canyons.
Afterwards, it went straight from the top of her car to my garage and has been there ever since.
This morning, I spent some time getting it ready for my trip.
After adjusting the foot braces to my long legs and sitting in it, I decided the gunnels needed some padding where my knees hit. Luckily, I had some adhesive backed closed cell foam that seemed to work just fine.
Then I turned the canoe over and did something that is probably controversial. The big dents aren't what slows a boat down, it's all the little scratches, so I go over the hull with steel wool and smooth out all the sharp edges. Then I give it a coating of wax.
I turned the boat back over again and went over all the woodwork with steel wool and then gave it another coat of Watco.
I found a rivet that needs replacing, but I saved that for another day.
